Pests and pesticides—both can pose problems to our health, our environment, and our economy. At the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYS IPM), we help New Yorkers address those problems safely and thoughtfully. How? Through innovative biological, cultural, technological, and educational practices. IPM, in a word. Community IPM takes place in settings as…Continue Reading Pests, Pesticides and Proposals: Funding IPM Community Projects
Rats! the latest research comes with surprises
Consider the rat — the urban sort. Then consider our health, our food, and the damage rats do to our buildings. Yet despite the considerable impact they have, there’s not much science out there. Until recently, most of the research dates back to the mid-1900’s. Now, though, rodent researchers worldwide are taking a closer look…Continue Reading Rats! the latest research comes with surprises
Rat czar Robert (Bobby) Corrigan earns IPM award
For Robert Corrigan the moment was pivotal. Enchanted from childhood by the story of iconic oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Corrigan enrolled at the State University of New York at Farmingdale with one dream: to be the next Cousteau. That changed the day biology professor Austin Frishman was a substitute teacher. So riveting was that one class…Continue Reading Rat czar Robert (Bobby) Corrigan earns IPM award
Fighting Waterbugs — with Water
Plumbing issues lead to pest problems — there’s little doubt about that. Leaks offer standing water to rodents, and clogged, scummy drains are breeding sites for flies. How curious that one of the most common plumbing-related pest problems I see is drains and pipes without water. Case Study At a multi-story office building, workers reported…Continue Reading Fighting Waterbugs — with Water
Ultrasonic Devices? Ultra-Ineffective
Sometimes I get questions about using ultrasonic devices for coping with pests. “Mrs. Jones uses them and she never sees a mouse!” is often how it goes. I understand the appeal: plug in this thing and my problem is solved. Sure! They also have great marketing campaign: this device will emit a sound you can’t…Continue Reading Ultrasonic Devices? Ultra-Ineffective
If you’re not monitoring, you’re not performing IPM.
Why? To start, let’s consider the distinction between an inspection and monitoring. An inspection is a view of pest activity at that moment in time. But what if pests are only active at night? Or on weekends when the building is quiet? Thus, monitoring is a record of pest activity in the times that you…Continue Reading If you’re not monitoring, you’re not performing IPM.
The squirrels are coming, the squirrels are coming!!
“Spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm.” ― John Muir In other words, birthing season will soon be upon us. And though it’s fun watching animal families grow up in our backyards, it’s best that they don’t give birth within our buildings. Because female squirrels seek safe places to raise their young in late…Continue Reading The squirrels are coming, the squirrels are coming!!
Rats, Fleas, the Media … Part II
When Cornell’s NYS IPM story — based on IPM entomologist Matt Frye’s research — hit the news a week ago, it made quite a splash. Back then, nearly 20 media outlets told the story: how Frye found over 6,500 lice, mites, and fleas on 113 rats live-trapped in New York City. And — that among…Continue Reading Rats, Fleas, the Media … Part II
Rats, Fleas, IPM: How the Media Told It
Since Cornell’s NYSIPM story — based on IPM entomologist Matt Frye’s research — went live earlier this week, here’s which media outlets told the story, and how. CBS News Cornell Chronicle Daily Mail (UK) The Dodo ESA Fox News International Business Times Medical Daily NBC News Newsweek New York Daily News Popular Science Science World…Continue Reading Rats, Fleas, IPM: How the Media Told It
News Flash! IPM Research — Rats, Fleas, and the Plague
Norway rats are your consummate “where you go, we go also” species, being as well adapted to urban living as we are. Meaning that the diseases we’ve blamed on them are most likely grounded in reality. Yet widespread instances of the most spectacular of those diseases — the Black Plague that devastated much of the…Continue Reading News Flash! IPM Research — Rats, Fleas, and the Plague